Red-light cameras raise ire in Clermont

February 11, 2014|By Stephen Hudak, Orlando Sentinel

Clermont political leaders Tuesday night expressed deep concerns about the city's red-light cameras after little more than a month in service, and will try to put a hold on installing any more devices.

City Council narrowly approved the cameras last year, but a key supporter of the traffic devices was dismayed after learning that 88 percent of the tickets have gone to drivers who turned right on red.

"The intent of the Council was to punish red-light runners," Councilman Ray Goodgame wrote in a newsletter to constituents before the meeting. "I want that to be the primary goal of the cameras."

But critics contend the red-light program is actually punishing motorists who think they are making legal and "careful and prudent" right-hand turns.

From Jan. 3 through Tuesday, Clermont had used video evidence from its six red-light cameras to issue 3,086 tickets, with 2,721 going to drivers who turned right on red.

City statistics show the cameras caught 356 drivers who drove straight through red lights and just nine who disregarded red lights and turned left.

On Tuesday night, a steady parade of Clermont residents railed at the commission about the camera program.

"The cameras are not about safety, they're about money," said Matthew Modica. "It's big brother gone mad."

Clermont Police Chief Charles Broadway promised to personally review the camera footage of every person who showed up to complain Tuesday night.

Red-light cameras are used by 80 communities in 26 Florida counties. Fine revenues grew to $118.9 million last year.

The cities and counties using red-light cameras keep just $75 of every $158 ticket issued with the state keeping the rest.

Clermont is under contract to pay Arizona-based American Traffic Solutions $4,750 a month per camera, but the leasing agreement provides the city with some flexibility if the cameras don't catch enough red-light runners to cover the cost of monthly leases.

Clermont has six cameras operating at four intersections, all of which are located along State Road 50, a heavily traveled commuter route through the city.

Until Tuesday night, the city had planned to add cameras at nine other intersections on SR 50 or U.S. Highway 27.

But City Manager Darren Gray said he would try to work with American Traffic Solutions to reduce the number of cameras that would be installed. Changing the contract, however, could end up costing the city more money, he warned.

Goodgame backed the camera program last year, insisting the city needed to change driving habits "and there's only one effective way to do that: in the pocketbook."